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Amidst the UK’s ongoing creativity crisis, EE, longstanding partner of the EE BAFTA Film Awards, is today launching a new campaign called ‘The Stage is Yours’, which delves into the mindset of secondary school children, shining a light on the importance of drama and the arts for life outside of the classroom. 

It comes as a new YouGov study of secondary school children commissioned by EE, reveals that four fifths (84%) of 11 – 16-year-olds regularly participate in drama, music or the arts. It highlights that those who do are twice as likely (32%) to feel confident in everyday life skills such as reading or presenting a project to their class compared to those who don’t (14%).

Despite this, participation in these activities wanes as secondary school children get older, with 16-year-olds a third less likely (11%) to take part in drama classes and recitals compared with 11-year-olds (44%).

With the clear role that drama and the arts play in developing self-esteem and expression in this next generation, it is no surprise that as many as half (51%) of 16-year-olds say that they lack confidence in at least one of the following key life skills:

• Trying or learning new things (only 41% feel confident)
• Confronting an issue with a friend of acquaintance (only 52% feel confident)
• Reading or presenting a project to their class (only 43% feel confident)
• Speaking to someone they have a crush on (only 22% feel confident)

More broadly this research shows that many 11 – 16-year-olds feel stressed in areas of their everyday life. Just under half of boys surveyed said they don’t want to look or be perceived as a loser (45%). The confidence to fail is also a challenge for many youngsters; three fifths of children (66%) say that they have a fear of making mistakes and people laughing at them (63%), while nearly a third (29%) admit to going as far as avoiding whatever it is that makes them feel nervous completely.

EE’s new campaign the ‘Stage is Yours’ is designed to shine a light on the importance of drama and the arts helping children to develop crucial and versatile life skills such as confidence. Focused on liberating learning from the classroom, EE, Micheal Ward, and other actors and influencers, have developed a series of workshops designed to empower and inspire secondary school children to build self-confidence through the arts, which are  now available on . 

Micheal Ward commented, “As an actor I am very passionate about inspiring young people to get involved in the arts because of the incredible benefits it can bring to their confidence and other key life skills. Throughout my career, I’ve had times where I’ve struggled with my confidence and it’s a pleasure to share what I’ve learned along the way with the next generation, whether they’re looking to pursue a career in the arts, or just a boost in their daily lives.”

Ahead of the EE BAFTA Film Awards, ‘The Stage is Yours’ campaign will also launch with a TikTok competition, utilising the platform’s stitch feature to give 13–17-year-olds the chance to act out the role of the ultimate villain in an improvised duet with former BAFTA EE Rising Star winner and star of Top Boy, Micheal Ward. The audition tapes can be submitted by stitching them to Micheal Ward’s video on EE’s TikTok profile @EE, with the hashtag #eethestageisyours. The winner will be selected by a panel of film experts and will secure a significant role in ‘NAZ’, the long-awaited biopic of boxing legend, Prince Naseem Hamed, from the acclaimed producers of the BAFTA-nominated ‘Boiling Point’.

Additionally, EE is hosting a free interactive festival of learning at 180 Strand in London during February half term. The is hosted by TV presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley, and features sessions from England’s men’s football manager Gareth Southgate, Sidemen’s Tobi Brown, Top Boy lead actor Ashley Walters, and renowned British businessperson Deborah Meaden, with each session designed to spark curiosity and unlock children’s potential.

Pete Jeavons, marketing communications director at EE, said, “We know how important the arts are for children in developing key life skills, encouraging creativity and building confidence. Our research shows that while secondary school children are passionate about the arts and that they help them to feel more confident when navigating everyday life, there is also a decrease in the uptake or continuation of these activities when they get older. We want to nurture the arts and inspire the younger generation to learn more, do more and be more. Through our longstanding partnership with BAFTA and our EE LearnSmart platform, it is our hope that we can liberate learning outside of the classroom and encourage all children to follow their passions”.

Lisa Prime, head of children and young people’s programme, BAFTA, added, “EE’s research underlines how nurturing young people’s creativity is vital from an early age. Creative confidence benefits the development of a whole range of important life skills, something BAFTA focuses on year-round in its national schools and families programmes. Communicating, listening, taking feedback, working together, and using your imagination to think innovatively – these are all tools that BAFTA is helping young people across the country to develop”.

EE has everything your child - and you - needs to make learning online fun, accessible and safe. With tools to help them protect their wellbeing and navigate life in the online world, plus all the tech they need to learn well from anywhere, whatever network they’re on this next generation can access a plethora of skills and knowledge so there is no life stage they can’t take on.